Elastic-fluid engine power installation



M. D. CHURCH ELASTICI FLUID ENG-INE POWER INSTALLATION Jan. 7, 1930.

Filed NOV. 2, 1927 L n E CONDE/V551? Patented Jan. 7, 193@ wir-nin :si-rares ijizss 'mi erm MAYNARD '1). CHURCH, 'OF WEILSVIISLE NEW YOR-K, ASSIGNQR T0 VIlIOORE .STEAM TURBINE "CORPORATION, 4O15" WVELLSVILLE, .NEW 'YGBIL 'A 'CORPORATION OF NEVV' 'ELASTICIFLITID 'ENGNE PO'WER INSTALLATION AAmilicatonfiled November 2, 192'?. Serial No. 230,632.

This. invention: relatesito elastic fluid multiple= expansion engine 'z installations fin which aheatingioffa 'iuid in oneror-:apluralityof steps. is feected by `means oi .bleeder iinotive Huichand in additiona portion of saidV motive fiuidater expansizonland not usedior? heating -ariiuid is: capable` ofzbeing divertediror 'other uses as mayfbe` desired.

' The object s of `the 'f invention fis :to aprovide 3 `an `organization of .inst-runnentalities :in a `multiple Yexpansion engine install-ation in which the bleeder: or expanded 'low pressure iiuid rom f one or s more stages yofi-enpansi on `will D ass-'to ath-eateror heaters to.l heat aiiuid i; in one or more steps to a desired temperature,

and Vsaidmotive fluid expanded-tothe lowest practicable: pressure to1 produce as muclr power aspossibl-elbe'fore bein-raised orithe'h'c-ating-o't--said Huid,- andI oni-yas-much of the expanded niotiveffluid is passedthrough-the low pressure stages o'fexpansion-to -saidheater or heaters `to le'iiect thefdes'fired tempera-ture 0'1"' said fluid, and dischargeordivert'for one or mere uses Wheresuch-expanded fiuid ymay be 23 desired,--any-surplus or excess-expandedmotive Huid'u'ithi'n the-engineaudnot-used in the tlower st-ages nf expansion vor ypassed throug'vh thefheaters.

A "further objectoftheiiivention is-'to,pro S vide-aniinstallation *ofi the character and operationabove:indicated2 in vvhichE the bleeder orlowv pressure: icluidltromA one or` mor-estages ofexpansion enteringthe iiuidheater or heatersnn'd the discharge or diversion of the sur- -l plus or excess expanded motive-fluid is predetermin-edlyfand automaticallyY controllecl by the Atemperature of the lheated *Huid issuing from the installation;

LAnot ier object of the invention. is-'to provide. aninstallationotthe character. and operation :above `recitedfin .which by .varying the amounts of the Vdischarged or diverted eX- pandedY motive fiuidtor other-nse-fexterior oit 3 the .engineatheengine'maybe made-to carry Aa v`variable load, ^or .theexpanded plow pressure-fluid toheatsaid'flnidmay;be `varied.

Other objects and advantages oft the invention uvill appear "from the detailed disclosure .le offthe construction and arrangement of the several instrumentalities.and mode otoperation.

Alhe invention consists of structural,y charya-cteristics:and relative arrangements of the several elements `and mechanicalzexil'aed-ients, :55 which Will be hereinafter more fully disclosed and'particiilarly vpointed out in the appended claims. f

`In Vthe drawings, Which rep-resent afdiagrammatic,View7 partlyin section, ofnone-fand een the preferred'form of the improvedfinstallation, as :applied toa f bleeder multi-stage f eX- Ypansionturbine, and Whilea turbine is; herein shown any form 'of multiplefexpansion elastic/fluid engine be substituted there- .165 for, if 'so desired;

'10 is theusual casing'provided-With .airotary shaft 11,. andsecuredto saidcasingfl() are provided nozzle diaphragms 12,"12,Which cooperate With the rotor'elementsfor:Wheels 10 13, 13, iXed-'to said shaft A11, vaslisffusual in this type ofturbine and Vneeds no furti-ieri explanation, and'while Ihave showmas illustrated, nine rotor elements orvvheels and nine stages `of expansion, vsaid number of .rotor elements or Wheels Aandstages vofexpansion may be increasedor decreased'without in any Waydeparting fromthe essential features 'of 'the present invention. y

1.4- is the high pressure motive fluid or 80 live steam Vinlet leading to a chamberwl communicating through a nozzle ring 16 :with the iirst stage rotor or Wheel and saidzmotive :fluid or live steam may becontrolled, `ifso desired, 4by any suitable rform of valve Iand 5 usual governor connectionsynot shown and need no further disclosure.

17 is an imperforate diaphragm separating the first stagev of expansion Jromthe'second and following-stages of expansion and forms two separated Chambers 18 and-19'Witlv1in'the turbine casing, as shown, and-said chambers 18 and 19 are in communication with each other by interconnected passages 20 and 21 controlledby a valve-22, the 'function and operation of which will be hereinafter more Vfully described.

23 is a secondary or auxiliary-exhaust passageway connected with the interior of chamber 18 for the purpose of bleeding or extracting low pressure motive fluid, and for functions to be presently described.

is shown between the fourth and fifth stages of expansion, and a similar chamber 25 is provided between the seventh and eighth stages of expansion, and while this disposition of said Chambers 18, 19, 24 and 25 is herein shown, this particular arrangement could be varied in number and arranged intermediate of any two stages of expansion, depending upon the initial motive fluid pressure, and nature of work to be accomplished and condition of service to be satisfied. A

The final exhaust chamber 26 communicating With the last or ninth stage ofexpansion of the engine is connected by means of conduit 27 with the usual surface condenser or heater 28 having the cold fluid or water inlet 29 and outlet- 30 and condensed motive fluid or steam outlet 31, as shown.

32 (heater A) and 33 (heater B) are auxiliary condensers or heaters which are connected respectively to the chambers 25 and 24, as shown. Said heater 32 is connected by means of bleeder opening 34 and conduit 35 to the chamber 25 between the seventh and eighth stages of expansion, while the heater 33 is connected by bleeder opening 36 and conduit 37 to the chamber 24 between the fourth and fifth stages of expansion, this connection of the bleeder Yopenings to said stage or stages of expansion may be varied as desired to give best results under'different conditions of service.

lThe fluid or water to be heated passes through fluid passages of condensers or heaters 28, 32'and 33 in series or succession. Cold fluid enters the heater or condenser 28 through inlet 29, passes through heater 28, enters heater (A) l32, through conduit 30, passes to heater (B) 33, through conduit 38 and leaves heater (B) 33 through conduit 39, from thence it passes to the points of use or storage, and while I have shown and preferably desire to use surface condensers or heaters, any other type may be employed, if so desired.

40 and 41 are pipes leadingand carrying the condensed fluid or steam formed in the heaters 32 and 33 to the interior of the condenser or heater 28 and out through the outlet 31, as

will be readily understood and need no further disclosure.Y

42 and 43 are pipes leading from and interconnecting the condenser or heater 28 with the heaters `32`and 33 for carryingthe air within said heaters 32 and 33 to the proper connections with the condenser 28, as will be readily understood and need no further explanation.

Within the hot fluid or water outlet or conduit 39 is provided a bulb 44 of a temperature responsive device, said bulb 44 containing a volatile liquid, such asether, and is disposed in the path of the outgoing heated fluid or water, as shown. 24 is a chamber simllar to chamber 19 and The interior of the bulb 44 is connected by means of a tube having a small bore to a charnber formed within a collapsible diaphragm 46 of'said temperature responsive device, said diaphragm 46 being loaded or resisted in its iniiation by a spring 47 and is so connected by a rod 48 to the valve 22 to control the position of said valvewith respect to its seat for purposes of regulating the communication between the chambers 18 and 19 through the interconnecting passages 2O and 21, and While I prefer to employ the form of heat responsive device herein shown for operating the regulating valve, other types of devices'responsive to changes of temperature will readily suggest themselves and could be substituted, or, if found expedient, a manually operated means may be employed to control or adjust the position of the valve 22 with respect to its seat and regulate the flow of expanded fluid from chamber 18 to chamber 19.

The engine installation being constructed and arranged as herein disclosed and there being a supply of liuid to be heated caused to pass through the condenser or heaters and conduits 28, 30, 32, 38, 33 and 39 in series and in the order named, the operation is as follows:

The engine having been started by the.

proper pressure and supply of high pressure motive fluid or lsteam entering at the inlet 14 and passing into chamber 15 and nozzle ring 16, said motive liuid or steam acts' on the rotor member 13 of the first stage of expansion and its expanded fluid enters the chamber 18 and a portion of said expanded fluid or steam passes out through auxiliary exhaust conduit 23 for use where such expanded fluid may be desired, while all the other portions of said expanded mot-ive fluid or steam passes through the passage 20, valve 22 and passage 21 in the order named through the second, third and fourth stages of expansion into chamber 24, and a portion of this further expanded luid or steam passes or is bled through the opening 36, and conduit 37 into the condenser or heater 33, While the remainder of the expanded fluid or steam within the chamber 24 passes through the fifth, sixth and seventh stages of expansion into chamber 25 from which chamber 25 a portion of this further expanded and lower temperature motive fluid or steam passes through the bleeder opening 34 and conduit 35 into the condenser or heater 32. The other portion of the exh austed fluid or steam Within the chamber 25, after having passed through the eighth and ninth or last two stages of expansion, enters `the final exhaust chamber 26 and thence by through"saidicondensen28"andisheatedto a 'higher `temperature `the final `'exhausted motive Afluid or vsteam "in 'said condenser. Said partially heated motive fluid :continues initsjproperfcircuit andiis successivelyheat- 4ed'intwo or'lnore stagestt'o ahigher tempera ture :as yit passes in series through ,conduit B0, hea-ter or condenser :32, conduit "38 ,and lheater 'or 'tcondenser *33, and rsaid serially heatedfluid vor waterfis conveyed by'a conduit39 to any suitable tank or .point `of the Aplant -for its proper Aand 1 efhoient use. The condensed 4motive *fluid -or steam `within the condensers "orheaters *32 and 33 fis .conveyed 4by the Vlpipes- :40 and lito :the interior "ofthe main condenser or heater 528 andpa'sses'out through outlet 31 `with f thefcondensedmotive Bruder-steam in saideondenserQS.

'The'lieated"fluid or f water vpassing through the1conduiti39'comesincontact With the bulb or Iany ether fform of temperature contrlletlfdevice,and if'the I temperature"of'said fluidisJliigliel*tharrthepreviously adj ustedor desiredftemperature, `,the diaphragm 46 Fisinflated'or eXpandedan/d the Controlling valve 22 istlepressed against the actionof thespring 47 towarditsseatfandreduces and properly varies the :amount 'of expanded motivelluid admitted from the chamber '118 to Ythe subsequentstages"of4 expansionandhence"the further expanded-motive `fluid' later lentering'the fluid heaters 33 and 82 `and 28, and thereby `eorrespondingly and iproperly reduce Athe quantity -an'd heat-ing effect ofthe further expanded Tfluid passing fthrough 'said f'heater orheaters. Y

Ift-hetemperaturefof the outgoingfluidis feo low, lal 'contrary action takes place, as will be understood and =needsfno 'further eX- planation.

fl`f=itisdesired to -heat a varying quantity otfhii'd or y:fluid entering-atta Varying-inlet temperature toa substanti-allyconstant f final temperature from time to'ltimeto effect the i required'temperature-of theheatedfluidin theeziteonduit 39,-this adjustment may be manual in accordance with observed thermometer variations. or automatic by any temperature controlled device 'to operate, as

disclosed'.

Any accumulation of expanded fluid r steaniexhausted into thetchamberlS from the 'first stage of expansion and checked or throttled .from passing to the subsequent stages of expansionand fluidheaters is diverted through Vthesecondary or auxiliary exhaust passageway 23 ,to any suitable-low pressuremotive fluidiline for other purposes about the plant. It will also be seen the engine may carry a variable load, or the demand for expanded motive fluid to heat a fluid may vary, and such variation can be met by discharging or diverting variable amountsof expanded motive fluid from the secondary 'Lor auziili'ary yehaust"passa-getWayiEB. c

Theiinstallationisoperatdi in=suh :aimanneras lto'heatthe vfluil'by'theaexpantled "m0- ctive fluid from lfthe engine in -`Ltwo orunio're steps "and u singLx in I eah'zstep fthe motive tluid whichhasbeenlexpandetlinfthefenginetothe lowest practicable pressure andtherebyrpro- "duce as `:much power l'possible =`fron1 l,said lm'otives'fluidf before bing used iin the heater ortheaters*'forheat-inga lluidfantlfdivertffrom the lnw '.pressure -stages of ezpansionfdflthe engine 'into the 4:fluid Eheaters only enough Vmotive fflui'd to Yheat 'f' the {fluid-to the desired temperature, and "at 'fthe Leame time weduee to a minimum the I'ezqianded xmotive fluid Adiverted through lthe yaux'iliaryexhaust passagewvayQ y From the 'lfore'goingi diselosurefofthefconstruction -an"d arrangement `of the 4different instrumentalities dfthe installation-and?their mode df-eo'operatiom "it "vill be seen *that 1 all the foljj ects #and #advantages in'tliea'te'd j'in fthe statementfof1 inventien'f'havebeenfeonipletely earrie'd fout -and -a construction Tel-ating Lto elastic flid engineshas been 'devised to not onlyfficientlyproduce powerbutfheatrailuid at-al constantandpredetermined' temperature with yor nWithout automaticfcontrol, `w`and yis-aiil operations yareI capable of being carried-'out' indepen dent of theftypefoffenginefcharacter f of heated7 `or-"ccan-struction oflautonratic'eontrolling'means orheatersorssaitlfluid.

v"VVli-atlfcla'im is l. A mltiple expansion engine installation comprising :a plurality :of expansion stages, fmeans for supplying thigh pressure motive fluid to -the first stagefa f'fluitlilieater, a bleeider, Ap ass-age1 connecting 'said'ffluiil' heater 1with aestage o'texpansion,fan'eahaust passage stages, *mea-ns E'for vsupplying liigh Ivpressure c motive fluid to the rst stage, aLpluralityfdf fluidheaters,aibleederpassageffor connecting eaehofsaid fluidlieaters Witlrzav separate stage oflexpans'ion, an 4endiaust Ipassage connected with Ifa stage o'f expansion Apreceding ythe stages fto which said "fluid heaters are Uconnected and me ans controlletl" bytheteniperatureof the heated fluid for, automatically varying the vflow :df exhaust motive fluid v'to thestagesfo'f expan's'ionfsubserpaenttosaid eX- haustpassage'as'requiretlfto'predeterminedly heat `the nfluid inl saidiflliidheaters. l Y

"3. A mltiple Vexpansion Y"en-gine installation comprising a plurality of expansion stages, means for supplying high pressure motive fluid to the first stage, a plurality of fluid heaters, a bleeder passage for connecting each of said fluid heaters with a separate stage of expansion, conduit means for passing fluid to be heated through said heaters in series, an exhaust passage connected with a stage ofk expansion preceding the stages to which said fluid heaters are connected, and means controlled by the temperature of the heated fluid for automatically Varying the flow of' exhaust motivefluid to the stages of expansion subsequent to said exhaust passage as required to predeterminedly heat the fluid in said fluid heaters.

4. A multiple expansion engine installation comprising a plurality of expansion stages, means for supplying high pressure motive fluid to the first stage, a fluid heater, a bleeder passage connecting said fluid heater With a lstage of expansion, regulating means intermediate the high pressure fluid admission and said bleeder passage and actuated by the temperature of the heated fluid for controlling the flow of motive fluid through the subsequent stages of the engine and -to the heater, and an exhaust passage connected with a stage of expansion intermediate said first stage and said regulating means.

A multi'pleexpansion engine installation comprising' a plurality of expansion stages, means for supplying a high pressure motive fluid to the first stage, a final exhaust passage connected to the outlet of the last stage of expansion, afluid `heater*connected to said final exhaust passage, a second fiuid heater, a bleeder passage connecting said second fluid heater withl a stage of expansion preceding the last stage of expansion, conduit means for passing fluid to be heated through said heaters in series, controlling means actuated by the temperature of the heated fluid and at a stage of expansion subsequent to the first stage and preceding the stages connected With thefluid heaters for Varying the flou7 of' exhaust motive fluid to stages subsequent to the first stage and to said heaters, and an auxiliary exhaust passage connected with a stage of expansion intermediate said first stage and said controlling means for the discharge of any surplus of motive fluid admitted tothe first stage. A,

6. A multiple expansion engine installation comprising a plurality of expansion stages, means for supplying a high pressure motive fluid to the first stage, a final exhaust passage connected `to the outlet of the last stage of expansion, a fluid heater connected to said final exhaust passage, a plurality of secondary fluid heaters, a bleeder passage for connecting each of said secondary fluid heaters with a separate stage of expansion preceding the last stage of expansion, conduit means for passing fluidlto be heatedthrough said 7. A multiple expansion engine installation comprising a plurality of expansion stages, means for supplying a high pressure motive fluid to the first stage, a filial exhaust passage connected to the outlet of' the last stage of expansion, a fluid heater connected to said-final exhaust passage, a plurality of secondary fluid heaters, a bleeder passage for connecting ez ch of said secondary fluid heaters With a separate stage of expansion preceding the last stage of expansion. conduit meansfor passing fluid to be heated through said heaters in seri es, controlling means actuated by the temperature of' the heated fluid and at a stage of expansion subsequent to the' first stage and preceding the stages connected with the fluid heaters for Varying the flow of exhaust motive fluid to stages subsequent to the first stage and to said heaters, and an auxiliary exhaust passage connected with a stage of expansion intermediate said first stage and said controlling means forthe discharge Aof any surplus of motive fluid admitted to the first stage.

. 8. A multi-expansion steam turbine comprising a plurality of expansion stages, means for supiiilying a high pressure steam to the first stage, a final exhaust steam .passage connectedto the outlet of the last stage of expansion, a Water heater connected to said final exhaust passage, a plurality of secondary Water heaters. a bleeder passage for connecting each of said secondary Water heaters With a separate stage of expansion preceding the last stage of expansion, conduit means for passing Water to'be heated through said heaters in series, controlling means at a stage of expansion subsequent to the first stage and preceding the stages connected with the Water heaters for varying the flow of exhaust steam to stages subsequentto the first stage and to said heaters, and an auxiliary exhaust passage connected With a stage of expansion intermediate said first stage and said controlling means for the discharge of any surplus steam admitted to the firststage. i

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

MAYNARD D. CHURCH. 

